The Aerospace industry combines aeronautics and astronautics to research, design, manufacture, operate, or maintain vehicles moving through air and through space. This presentation covers the early roots of the Aerospace industry as we know it today.

1. THE HISTORY OF
AEROSPACE
BY AEROCOM METALS.

2. Introduction

Aerodynamics has come to play a large role in
society, the military, sports and space travel. A brief look
at the history of aerodynamics reveals how the study of
forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air
have intrigued man since early times.

Specifically, aerodynamics is the branch of dynamics
that concentrates on the study of the motion of air; a
sub-field of fluid and gas dynamics.

“Aerios” is taken from Greek, meaning air while
“dynamis” means force, hence aerodynamics.

3. Early Roots

The earliest recorded written records relating to
aerodynamics are attributed to Aristotle in the 2nd
century B.CSpecifically, aerodynamics is the branch of
dynamics that concentrates on the study of the motion of
air; a sub-field of fluid and gas dynamics

Later practical theories were later developed by
Archimedes in the 3rd century B.C.

The theory of aerodynamic continuity assumption had its
first roots in Aristotle’s “Treatise on the Heavens.”

4. Archimedes

The first person to state
that a fluid could be
deployed as a continuum

Attributed with the
discovery that fluid flow
was “driven by a pressure
gradient within the fluid”

Pivotal role in developing
knowledge fluid flow and
aerodynamics

5. Da Vinci

Designed the
ornithopter flying
machine in 1488

The Ornithopter used
bird-like flapping wings

Design presented in his
Codex, Flight of
Birds, in 1505

6. Newton

Large advancements
occurred with release of
Principia in 1687

Regarded as the first
complete theoretical
approach to
understanding mechanical
phenomena

Conservation of
momentum, became one
of three fundamental
principles utilised to obtain
Euler equations and
Navier-Stokes equations.

7. 18th Century

Daniel Bernoulli published his work in Hydrodynamics in
1738. He depicted the relationship between pressure
and velocity, today known as "Bernoulli’s principle."
Regarded as the first complete theoretical approach to
understanding mechanical phenomena

George Cayley developed the concept of the first fixedwing aircraft in 1799.

Cayley identified the four fundamental forces of flight:
Lift, Thrust, Drag and Weight.

8. The Wright Brothers

Successfully flew the first
powered aircraft, named
Kitty Hawk, in
1903

This led to more
organised collaborations
between aviators in
advancing the science of
aerodynamics and fuel
powered flight

9. Development of
Aerodynamics





As the theory of the science evolved, the practical
applications soon followed.
Bernoulli’s work validated incompressible, inviscid flow.
Euler’s work advanced Bernoulli’s early work to develop the
principle of compressible flow regime.
Work by Navier-Stokes advanced Euler’s work to account for
viscous effects.
Ludwig Prandt established himself as one of the primary
sources to investigate boundary layers.

10. Aerocom Metals
We are still advancing the science of aerodynamics today. There are
many important aspects to what many assume is a straightforward
transportation mode.
Based in Coventry, England, Aerocom Metals supply a range of highstrength and lightweight metals to the Aerospace and Motorsports
industries.
Web: http://aerocommetals.co.uk/
Tel: +44 (0) 2476 645 551
Email: sales@aerocommetals.co.uk